After 33 years as an elementary teacher, Roxana Eckhoff will say goodbye to her final class of kindergarteners on May 16. Eckhoff, a kindergarten teacher at Warsaw South Elementary, is retiring from a job she has loved for more than 30 years.
“I love children,” said Eckhoff. “I always wanted a big family and my whole life has revolved around children.”
The youngest daughter of the late Dr. Leo and Rita Porter graduated from Warsaw High School in 1987 and continued her education at Central Methodist University in Fayette. She attended Central Methodist on volleyball and music scholarships.
“I loved CMU because I was able to continue with the sport I loved in high school and the music program allowed me to travel with the choir to perform,” said Eckhoff.
Her high school sweetheart, Dustin Eckhoff, attended Mizzou and after they were married, they eventually found themselves back in Benton County.
Eckhoff taught for two years n Higbee, MO, and then one year in Lincoln when a position as a kindergarten teacher became available at Warsaw South.
“I could have taught first grade at North, but I wanted to have the kindergartners,” said Eckhoff. “I loved that the school as in the country surrounded by trees and farms.”
In addition to the many children she has influenced over the years, Eckhoff also has six children of her own at home. The Eckhoffs are parents of Seth, 25, Anna, 23, Lydia, 21, Benjamin, 16, Emarie, 14, and Adison, 12.
“My children are part of the reason I decided to retire,” said Eckhoff. “I stay late at school to prepare for the next day and I need more time with my children as they play sports and are active in many activities,” said Eckhoff.
Eckhoff commented that she would miss the children and her school family, but she wants to be a full-time mother.
“I never could do anything halfway,” said Eckhoff. “If I was going to be a teacher, I wanted to be the best and that takes a lot of work and time commitment. I am going to spend more time going to games and being with my children.”
Her advice to parents about preparing their children for school is “Spend time with your children, put down the electronics and look them in the eye and talk to them.”
Warsaw R-IX Superintendent Scott Gemes appreciated Eckhoff’s work. “Mrs. Eckhoff has ben a great asset for the Warsaw School district for many years,” said Gemes. “I am excited for her and her retirement, but I am disappointed about losing a great teacher.”
